I’ve come back from blog hibernation (really from six of the busiest months I’ve ever had) to bring a Science Crush that, to me, has come out of left field, which is a terrible metaphor because he’s a professional football player, not a baseball pro. The man of science that I’m celebrating today is Baltimore Raven’s player John Urschel. It’s he dreamy?
(Image from the Penn State Science Journal.)
Yes...Mr. Urschel is a footballer, but he is also a more-than-casual mathematician. While at Penn State he majored in math and minored in statistics. His work was recently published in the Journal of Computational Mathematics (but you can view it here on arViv). And just in case you don’t think that’s sciencey enough (it is pretty advanced math stuff there), he has also dabbled in the mathematical side of astrophysics and planetary dynamics.
But wait...there’s more...
However, before I continue, let’s see an action shot. I chose one from training because you get to see more muscles that way.
(Picture from www.utsandiego.com)
Ok...onto extolling more of John’s scientific (well mathematic) virtues.
You see...he doesn’t just have a Bachelors in math. Nope. He soldiered on and got a Masters degree in mathematics, one year after finishing off his undergrad degree. And...he’s in the middle of getting another Masters in math education. AND...he plans on getting a PhD on the topic once he feels he is done with professional football.
Oh...and he also has started a program to provide scholarships to Baltimore area students interested in math. I bet he hand rears orphaned kittens in his spare time, too.
So...for his accomplishments in math, on the gridiron, and his dedication to mathematically outreach and education, John Urschel is one awesome Science Crush!
